Location / Language of Poland
Poland is a country located in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative subdivisions, covering an area of 3.12 lac sq kms, and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With a population of approximately 38.5 million people, Poland is the sixth most populous member state of the European Union. Poland's capital and largest metropolis is Warsaw. Other major cities include Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin.
The official language is Polish and is spoken by almost the entire population.
Apply Poland visa from India
Visa Requirements / Currency (please note these procedures / exchange rates can changed from time to time…please get an update from the embassy prior to travel)
As India is not part of the Schengen Area, if one is an Indian passport holder you will need to apply for the appropriate type of Schengen Polish Visa for travelling to the country. To be eligible for a Schengen Visa for Poland one will mainly need their current passport, along with certain documents, to be submitted with the Visa application form.
Currency : Euro (EUR)
Conversion: Rs.1 INR = 0.013 EUR
1 EUR = Rs. 78.04 INR
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Poland
- Main Market Square – Dating back to the 13th century, the Main Market Square in the Old Town in Kraków is the largest medieval town square in Europe and is surrounded by historical townhouses, historic buildings, palaces and churches. The centre of the square is dominated by the Cloth Hall, rebuilt in 1555 in the Renaissance style, topped by a beautiful attic.
- Gdansk Old Town - Located on the Baltic coast, the city of Gdansk’s history includes a long occupation by 14th century Teutonic Knights whose fortresses contrasted strongly with the existing town that came to be known as Altstadt, or “Old Town.” In the 15th century, Casimir IV of Poland allowed the structures built by the Teutonic Knights to be demolished. Gdansk’s Old Town area includes many 17th century structures, including granaries, mills and churches.
- The Bialowieza Forest – It is a large remnant of the primeval forests that once covered much of Europe. The forest straddles the border between Poland and the Republic of Belarus, and there are border crossings for tourists on foot or on bicycles. The Bialowieza Forest is home to around 800 wisent, a protected species of European bison. While the wisent are kept within fenced areas, guided tours are available either on foot or in horse-drawn carriages.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine - Located on the outskirts of Krakow, the mine is considered one of the oldest companies in the world. Salt has been mined from the site continuously since the 13th century. The site features an underground city, all carved out of the rock salt, including a chapel that is said to have the best acoustics of any structure in Europe. Dozens of ancient sculptures carved from salt are augmented by new sculptures from contemporary artists.
- Malbork Castle – It was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights who used it as their headquarters to help defeat Polish enemies and rule their own northern Baltic territories. The castle was expanded several time to host the growing number of Knights until their retreat to Königsburg in 1466. Today it is the most popular tourist attraction in the city of Malbork.
- Slowinski Sand Dunes – They are part of the Slowinski National Park located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The park is named after the Slovincians who once lived there, and an open-air museum in the town of Kluki featuring artefacts of their culture. The dunes themselves are formed as waves and wind carry sand onshore and can reach as high as 30 meters. Their forms change with the season and are known as the “moving dunes.”.
- Masurian Lake District - It contains more than 2,000 lakes connected by an extensive system of canals and rivers. The Masurian Lakeland also contains hotels, guest houses and camp sites in the villages that surround the lakes, and visitors often travel by bicycle or boat to tour the scenic area.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau – A visit to this immensely large size infamous Nazi concentration camp is the first thing to strike visitors as they approach the entrance to the memorial and museum in Oswiecim, Poland. Devoted to the memory of the murders in the camps during World War II, Auschwitz-Birkenau has been visited by more than 25 million people.
- Wawel Castle - People have lived here upon the site since the Paleolithic Age. The castle itself was first built in the 14th century, at the command of Polish monarch Casimir III the Great. The Gothic castle is home to the only preserved piece of the Polish Crown Jewels, the legendary sword Szczerbiec coronation sword. Decorated with symbols and floral patterns, the blade is notched to hold a small shield, giving the sword its nickname, the Jagged Sword.
- Isle of Usedom – It is located in the northeastern region of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania that is familiar for its affluence of water and has great number of hotels, guest houses, and beautiful bed and breakfast inns. Tourists will find some international fashion events, theatre performances, museum displays, and outdoor concerts. Trassenheide, Europe’s largest butterfly farm, Zinnowitz pier’s diving bell, and Heringdorf aerodrome are among Usedom’s topmost draws.
Things You Must Do in Poland
- Sail the Great Masurian Lakes - The northeast of Poland is a vast expanse of little-known, interlinked lakes and rivers. From the first budding of the trees in May through to the changing of the leaves in autumn, boaters from all around try their hand on Lake Śniardwy or Lake Niegocin, or paddle the scenic Krutynia River. The towns of Giżycko and Mikołajki make the best bases for sailing, cycling and paddling trips..
- Take to the Carpathian mountains to hike, bike or ski - The Carpathians, a narrow range of mid-sized mountains runs the length of the Polish border from Germany to Ukraine. The Karkonosze range in the southwest is ideal for mountain biking, while Zakopane range is considered best for skiing. The favourite, though, is the isolated Bieszczady range which is a hiker's dream, and the native lynx might well outnumber the people who venture there.
- Be Amazed at the Warsaw Museum - For a few years now, the Warsaw Rising Museum has been wowing visitors with its engrossing array of sound, light and video to portray the city’s tragic uprising against the occupying Germans in 1944. Opened in 2014, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews has put many of those same effects to use as it traces the 1,000-year history of the Jewish people in Poland. The result is an entertaining – and highly moving – journey through time.
Food on the Plate
Polish cuisine is a style of cooking and food preparation originating in or widely popular in Poland. Polish cuisine has evolved over the centuries to become very eclectic due to Poland's history and it shares many similarities with other West Slavic countries like neighbouring Czech and Slovak. It has also been widely influenced by other Central European cuisines, namely German, Austrian and Hungarian as well as Jewish, French, Italian, and Turkish culinary traditions.
Dutch food one must try includes:
- Potato Pancakes – A thin pancake made with grated onion, carrot, parsnips or other vegetables. Delicious served hot either sprinkled with sugar or dolloped with sour cream.
- Oscypek - Smoked cheese made of salted sheep milk that's found exclusively in the Tatra Mountains region of Poland. It is served with bacon, grilled apple and cranberry sauce.
- Barszcz - The basic Polish borscht recipe includes red beetroot, onions, garlic, and other vegetables, such as carrots and celery or root parsley. A vegetarian version is served with ravioli-type dumplings called uszka with mushroom filling.
- Makowiec – One of the most traditional Polish desserts, it's a poppy seed pastry cake served at most special occasions.
- Piernik (Polish Gingerbread) - A dark and moist honey cake made with a number of spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, usually served with a chocolate glaze.
Overseas Travel Medical Insurance Poland
Since Poland is a country which is part of the Schengen countries in Europe, an Indian tourist while applying for Polish visa must show adequate travel medical insurance coverage for the entire duration of stay in Poland.
Travel insurance India for Poland is relatively cheaper when compared to destinations in Americas, and most insurance companies offer a specific
Schengen Insurance Plan. One must ensure that the minimum Accident & Sickness (A&S) sum insured for a Schengen plan must be €30,000 (around $50,000), and a visa to visit any Schengen country will not be provided without this minimum coverage.
The insured must purchase an “Excluding Americas” Plan, if they are travelling to other destinations that don’t include only Schengen countries.
Illustration for 15 days Indian travel mediclaim insurance for Poland.
Sum Insured($USD or €Euro) / Premium in Rs. INR |
Insured Age 34 |
Insured Age 64 |
Schengen - €30,000 |
Rs.733 |
Rs.1,561 |
Schengen - €50,000 |
Rs.830 |
Rs.1,694 |
Excluding - $50,000 |
Rs.1,028 |
Rs.1,714 |
These premiums are across different plans and different benefits.. please log in to
www.eindiainsurance.com to compare and buy the best travel health insurance for Indian tourists applying for Polish Visa.